Photoluminescent engine compartment lighting

ABSTRACT

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on an internal surface of a closure of a vehicle compartment. The illumination apparatus further includes a light source located proximate the closure. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength, to illuminate the compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/301,635, filed Jun. 11, 2014, and entitled “PHOTOLUMINESCENTVEHICLE READING LAMP,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/156,869, filed on Jan. 16, 2014, entitled“VEHICLE DOME LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH PHOTOLUMINESCENT STRUCTURE,” which isa continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/086,442,filed Nov. 21, 2013, and entitled “VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITHPHOTOLUMINESCENT STRUCTURE.” The aforementioned related applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle lighting systems,and more particularly, to vehicle lighting systems employingphotoluminescent structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Illumination arising from photoluminescent materials offers a unique andattractive viewing experience. It is therefore desired to incorporatesuch photoluminescent materials in portions of vehicles to provideambient and task lighting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an illuminationapparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatuscomprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on an internal surface ofa closure of a vehicle compartment. The illumination apparatus furtherincludes a light source located proximate the closure. The light sourceis configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward thephotoluminescent portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured toconvert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength, longerthan the first wavelength, to illuminate the compartment.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an illuminationsystem for a vehicle engine compartment is disclosed. The illuminationsystem includes a first photoluminescent portion disposed on an internalsurface of a hood and at least a second photoluminescent portion locatedin an engine compartment. A light source is located proximate the hoodand is configured to emit light at a first wavelength. Thephotoluminescent portions are configured to convert the first wavelengthto at least a second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength, toilluminate the engine compartment.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a lightingsystem for an engine compartment is disclosed. The lighting systemcomprises a light source configured to emit light at a first wavelengthdirected toward an engine compartment. The light at the first wavelengthis directed toward a plurality of photoluminescent portionscorresponding to a plurality of features proximate the enginecompartment. The photoluminescent portions are configured to convert thefirst wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the firstwavelength to illuminate the plurality of features.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosurewill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle comprising a lighting system;

FIG. 2A illustrates a photoluminescent structure rendered as a coating;

FIG. 2B illustrates the photoluminescent structure rendered as adiscrete particle;

FIG. 2C illustrates a plurality photoluminescent structures rendered asdiscrete particles and incorporated into a separate structure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a vehicle lighting system configured to convert afirst emission of light to a second emission of light;

FIG. 4 illustrates the vehicle lighting system configured to convert afirst emission of light to a plurality of emissions of light;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a lighting systemconfigured to illuminate an engine compartment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a lighting systemconfigured to illuminate at least one engine component in an enginecompartment; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a lighting systemconfigured to illuminate at least a portion of a hood of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure aredisclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodiedin various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to adetailed design and some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized toshow function overview. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art tovariously employ the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or moreitems, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself,or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed.For example, if a composition is described as containing components A,B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; Aand B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; orA, B, and C in combination.

The following disclosure describes a lighting system for a vehicleconfigured to illuminate at least a portion of an engine compartment. Insome implementations, a light source may be configured to illuminate afirst photoluminescent portion corresponding to a utility light. Thelight source may further be configured to illuminate a secondphotoluminescent portion corresponding to at least one enginecompartment feature, component, fluid reservoir, and/or any otherportion of the vehicle located proximate the engine compartment. Invarious implementations, the first photoluminescent portion maycorrespond to a functional lighting unit configured to illuminate theengine compartment. The second photoluminescent portion may correspondto an additional lighting unit configured to illuminate at least oneengine compartment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a vehicle 10 is showndemonstrating a lighting system 12 configured to illuminate at least aportion of an engine compartment 14. The lighting system 12 comprises alight source 16 disposed on an interior surface 17 of a hood 18 and atleast one photoluminescent portion 20. In some implementations, the atleast one photoluminescent portion 20 may comprise a plurality ofphotoluminescent portions 22. The light source 16 is configured tooutput a first emission 24 corresponding to a first wavelength of light.In response to receiving the light at the first wavelength, theplurality of photoluminescent portions 22 may become illuminated andemit at least a second emission 26 having a second wavelength of lightlonger than the first wavelength.

The plurality of photoluminescent portions 22 may correspond to anynumber of features located in the engine compartment 14 and disposed onthe interior surface 17 incorporating at least one photoluminescentstructure. In an exemplary implementation, the lighting system 12comprises a first photoluminescent portion 28 and a secondphotoluminescent portion 30. The first photoluminescent portion 28 maycorrespond to a utility light 32 configured to emit a high intensitylight to illuminate the engine compartment 14. The secondphotoluminescent portion 30 may correspond to at least one feature 34located in the engine compartment. The second photoluminescent portion30 may be configured to illuminate the at least one feature 34 toprovide an ambient glow emitted from the at least one feature 34.

Each of the plurality of photoluminescent portions 22 may incorporateone or more photoluminescent structures configured to emit a specificcolor in response to the excitation generated in response to the firstemission 24. In some implementations, a combination of photoluminescentstructures may be utilized in the photoluminescent portions 22 to outputvarious wavelengths corresponding to different colors of light. Forexample, in some implementations the utility light 32 may be configuredto emit a combination of red light, green light, and blue light togenerate a light having a substantially white appearance. The lightingsystem 12 may provide various benefits including a cost-effective methodfor illuminating an engine compartment and incorporating ambientlighting to at least one feature 34 proximate the engine compartment 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, a photoluminescent structure 42 is generallyshown rendered as a coating (e.g. a film) capable of being applied to avehicle fixture, a discrete particle capable of being implanted in avehicle fixture, and a plurality of discrete particles incorporated intoa separate structure capable of being applied to a vehicle fixture,respectively. The photoluminescent structure 42 may correspond to thephotoluminescent portions as discussed herein, for example the firstphotoluminescent portion 28 and the second photoluminescent portion 30.At the most basic level, the photoluminescent structure 42 includes anenergy conversion layer 44 that may be provided as a single layer or amultilayer structure, as shown through broken lines in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The energy conversion layer 44 may include one or more photoluminescentmaterials having energy converting elements selected from aphosphorescent or a fluorescent material. The photoluminescent materialsmay be formulated to convert an inputted electromagnetic radiation intoan outputted electromagnetic radiation generally having a longerwavelength and expressing a color that is not characteristic of theinputted electromagnetic radiation. The difference in wavelength betweenthe inputted and outputted electromagnetic radiations is referred to asthe Stokes shift and serves as the principle driving mechanism for anenergy conversion process corresponding to a change in wavelength oflight, often referred to as down conversion. In the variousimplementations discussed herein, each of the wavelengths of light (e.g.the first wavelength, etc.) correspond to electromagnetic radiationutilized in the conversion process.

Each of the photoluminescent portions may comprise at least onephotoluminescent structure 42 comprising an energy conversion layer(e.g. conversion layer 44). The energy conversion layer 44 may beprepared by dispersing the photoluminescent material in a polymer matrix50 to form a homogenous mixture using a variety of methods. Such methodsmay include preparing the energy conversion layer 44 from a formulationin a liquid carrier medium and coating the energy conversion layer 44 toa desired planar and/or non-planar substrate of a vehicle fixture. Theenergy conversion layer 44 coating may be deposited on a vehicle fixtureby painting, screen printing, spraying, slot coating, dip coating,roller coating, and bar coating. Additionally, the energy conversionlayer 44 may be prepared by methods that do not use a liquid carriermedium.

For example, a solid state solution (homogenous mixture in a dry state)of one or more photoluminescent materials may be incorporated in apolymer matrix 50 to provide the energy conversion layer 44. The polymermatrix 50 may be formed by extrusion, injection molding, compressionmolding, calendaring, thermoforming, etc. In instances where one or moreenergy conversion layers 44 are rendered as particles, the single ormulti-layered energy conversion layers 44 may be implanted into avehicle fixture or panel. When the energy conversion layer 44 includes amultilayer formulation, each layer may be sequentially coated.Additionally, the layers can be separately prepared and later laminatedor embossed together to form an integral layer. The layers may also becoextruded to prepare an integrated multi-layered energy conversionstructure.

Referring back to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the photoluminescent structure 42 mayoptionally include at least one stability layer 46 to protect thephotoluminescent material contained within the energy conversion layer44 from photolytic and thermal degradation. The stability layer 46 maybe configured as a separate layer optically coupled and adhered to theenergy conversion layer 44. The stability layer 46 may also beintegrated with the energy conversion layer 44. The photoluminescentstructure 42 may also optionally include a protective layer 48 opticallycoupled and adhered to the stability layer 46 or any layer or coating toprotect the photoluminescent structure 42 from physical and chemicaldamage arising from environmental exposure.

The stability layer 46 and/or the protective layer 48 may be combinedwith the energy conversion layer 44 to form an integratedphotoluminescent structure 42 through sequential coating or printing ofeach layer, or by sequential lamination or embossing. Alternatively,several layers may be combined by sequential coating, lamination, orembossing to form a substructure. The substructure may then be laminatedor embossed to form the integrated photoluminescent structure 42. Onceformed, the photoluminescent structure 42 may be applied to a chosenvehicle fixture.

In some implementations, the photoluminescent structure 42 may beincorporated into a vehicle fixture as one or more discrete multilayeredparticles as shown in FIG. 2C. The photoluminescent structure 42 mayalso be provided as one or more discrete multilayered particlesdispersed in a polymer formulation that is subsequently applied to avehicle fixture or panel as a contiguous structure. Additionalinformation regarding the construction of photoluminescent structures tobe utilized in at least one photoluminescent portion of a vehicle isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,232,533 to Kingsley et al., entitled“PHOTOLYTICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE MULTILAYER STRUCTURE FOR HIGHEFFICIENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY CONVERSION AND SUSTAINED SECONDARYEMISSION,” filed Nov. 8, 2011, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 3, the lighting system 12 is generally shown accordingto a front-lit configuration 62 to convert the first emission 24 fromthe light source 16 to the second emission 26. The first emission 24comprises a first wavelength λ₁, and the second emission 26 comprises asecond wavelength λ₂. The lighting system 12 may include thephotoluminescent structure 42 rendered as a coating and applied to asubstrate 68 of a vehicle fixture 70. The photoluminescent structure 42may include the energy conversion layer 44, and in some implementationsmay include the stability layer 46 and/or protective layer 48. Inresponse to the light source 16 being activated, the first emission 24is converted from the first wavelength λ₁ to the second emission 26having at least the second wavelength λ₂. The second emission 26 maycomprise a plurality of wavelengths λ₂, λ₃, λ₄ configured to emitsignificantly white light from the vehicle fixture 70.

In various implementations, the lighting system 14 comprises at leastone energy conversion layer 44 configured to convert the first emission24 at the first wavelength λ₁ to the second emission 26 having at leastthe second wavelength λ₂. In order to generate the plurality ofwavelengths λ₂, λ₃, λ₄, the energy conversion layer 44 may comprise ared-emitting photoluminescent material, a green-emittingphotoluminescent material, and a blue-emitting photoluminescent materialdispersed in the polymer matrix 50. The red, green, and blue-emittingphotoluminescent materials may be combined to generate the significantlywhite light for the second emission 26. Further, the red, green, andblue-emitting photoluminescent materials may be utilized in a variety ofproportions and combinations to control the color of the second emission26.

Each of the photoluminescent materials may vary in output intensity,output wavelength, and peak absorption wavelengths based on a particularphotochemical structure and combinations of photochemical structuresutilized in the energy conversion layer 44. As an example, the secondemission 26 may be changed by adjusting the wavelength of the firstemission λ₁ to activate the photoluminescent materials at differentintensities to alter the color of the second emission 26. In addition toor alternatively to the red, green, and blue-emitting photoluminescentmaterials, other photoluminescent materials may be utilized alone and invarious combinations to generate the second emission 26 in a widevariety of colors. In this way, the lighting system 12 may be configuredfor a variety of applications to provide a desired lighting color andeffect for the vehicle 10.

The light source 16 may also be referred to as an excitation source andis operable to emit at least the first emission 24. The light source 16may comprise any form of light source, for example halogen lighting,fluorescent lighting, light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs(OLEDs), polymer LEDs (PLEDs), solid state lighting or any other form oflighting configured to output the first emission 24. The first emission24 from the light source 16 may be configured such that the firstwavelength λ₁ corresponds to at least one absorption wavelength of theone or more photoluminescent materials of the energy conversion layer44. In response to receiving the light at the first wavelength λ₁, theenergy conversion layer 44 may be excited and output the one or moreoutput wavelengths λ₂, λ₃, λ₄. The first emission 24 provides anexcitation source for the energy conversion layer 44 by targetingabsorption wavelengths of the various photoluminescent materialsutilized therein. As such, the lighting system 14 is configured tooutput the second emission 26 to generate a desired light intensity andcolor.

Though the plurality to wavelengths is referred to as the wavelengthsλ₂, λ₃, λ₄, the photoluminescent materials may be combined in variousproportions, types, layers, etc. to generate a variety of colors for thesecond emission 26. The photoluminescent materials may also be utilizedin a plurality of photoluminescent portions distributed along a path ofthe first emission 24 to generate any number of emissions, for example athird emission, a fourth emission, etc. The third emission may beemitted from the second photoluminescent portion 30 and the fourthemission may be emitted from a third photoluminescent portion disposedon the vehicle 10.

In an exemplary implementation, the light source 16 comprises an LEDconfigured to emit the first wavelength λ₁ which corresponds to a bluespectral color range. The blue spectral color range comprises a range ofwavelengths generally expressed as blue light (˜440-500 nm). In someimplementations, the first wavelength λ₁ may also comprise wavelengthsin a near ultraviolet color range (˜390-450 nm). In an exemplaryimplementation, λ₁ may be approximately equal to 470 nm. In someimplementations, the first wavelength λ₁ may be approximately less than500 nm such that the first wavelength of the light is not significantlyvisible.

The blue spectral color range and shorter wavelengths may be utilized asan excitation source for the lighting system 12 due to these wavelengthshaving limited perceptual acuity in the visible spectrum of the humaneye. By utilizing shorter wavelengths for the first wavelength λ₁, andconverting the first wavelength with the conversion layer 44 to at leastone longer wavelength, the lighting system 12 creates a visual effect oflight originating from the photoluminescent structure 42. In thisconfiguration, light is emitted from the photoluminescent structure 42(e.g. the first photoluminescent portion 28, the second photoluminescentportion 30) from locations of the vehicle 10 that may be inaccessible orcostly to add conventional light sources requiring electricalconnections.

As discussed herein, each of the plurality of wavelengths λ₂, λ₃, λ₄ maycorrespond to a significantly different spectral color range. The secondwavelength λ₂ may correspond to the excitation of a red-emittingphotoluminescent material having a wavelength of approximately 620-750nm. The third wavelength λ₃ may correspond to the excitation of a greenemitting photoluminescent material having a wavelength of approximately526-606 nm. The fourth wavelength λ₄ may correspond to a blue or bluegreen emitting photo luminescent material having a wavelength longerthan the first wavelength λ₁ and approximately 430-525 nm. Though thewavelengths λ₂, λ₃, λ₄ are discussed herein as being utilized togenerate a significantly white light, various combinations ofphotoluminescent materials may be utilized in the conversion layer 44 toconvert the first wavelength λ₁ to one or more wavelengths correspondingto a variety of colors.

Referring to FIG. 4, the light system 12 is shown in a front-litconfiguration. In an exemplary implementation, the light source 16 maybe configured to emit the first emission 24 toward the plurality ofphotoluminescent portions 82. In this example, the plurality ofphotoluminescent portions 22 comprises the first photoluminescentportion 28, the second photoluminescent portion 30, and a thirdphotoluminescent portion 84. Each of the photoluminescent portions 28,30, 84 may be configured to convert the first wavelength λ₁ of the firstemission 24 to one or more of the plurality of wavelengths λ₂, λ₃, λ₄.In this way, the first emission 24 may be converted into a plurality ofemissions originating from each of the photoluminescent portions 82 togenerate a multicolored lighting effect.

For example, the first photoluminescent portion 28 may comprisephotoluminescent materials in a conversion layer configured to generatethe second emission 26. The second photoluminescent portion 30 maycomprise photoluminescent materials in a conversion layer configured togenerate a third emission 86. The third photoluminescent portion 84 maycomprise photoluminescent materials in a conversion layer configured togenerate a fourth emission 88. Similar to the energy conversion layer44, discussed in reference to FIG. 3, photoluminescent materialsconfigured to emit light of various colors may be utilized in a varietyof proportions and combinations to control the output color of each ofthe second emission 66, the third emission 86, and the fourth emission88. Based on a desired lighting effect, each of the emissions 26, 86, 88may comprise photoluminescent material configured to emit light havingsubstantially similar colors, or a wide variety of color combinations.

To achieve the various colors and combinations of photoluminescentmaterials described herein, the lighting system 12 may utilize any formof photoluminescent materials, for example phospholuminescent materials,organic and inorganic dyes, etc. For additional information regardingfabrication and utilization of photoluminescent materials to achievevarious emissions, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 8,207,511 to Bortz et al.,entitled “PHOTOLUMINESCENT FIBERS, COMPOSITIONS AND FABRICS MADETHEREFROM,” filed Jun. 5, 2009; U.S. Pat. No. 8,247,761 to Agrawal etal., entitled “PHOTOLUMINESCENT MARKINGS WITH FUNCTIONAL OVERLAYERS,”filed Oct. 9, 2011; U.S. Pat. No. 8,519,359 B2 to Kingsley et al.,entitled “PHOTOLYTICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE MULTILAYER STRUCTUREFOR HIGH EFFICIENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY CONVERSION AND SUSTAINEDSECONDARY EMISSION,” filed Mar. 4, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 8,664,624 B2 toKingsley et al., entitled “ILLUMINATION DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR GENERATINGSUSTAINED SECONDARY EMISSION,” filed Nov. 14, 2012; U.S. PatentPublication No. 2012/0183677 to Agrawal et al., entitled“PHOTOLUMINESCENT COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND NOVEL USES,”filed Mar. 29, 2012; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0065442 A1 toKingsley et al., entitled “PHOTOLUMINESCENT OBJECTS,” filed Oct. 23,2012; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0103258 A1 to Agrawal et al.,entitled “CHROMIC LUMINESCENT COMPOSITIONS AND TEXTILES,” filed Dec. 19,2013, all of which are included herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the engine compartment 14 of the vehicle 10is shown demonstrating the plurality of photoluminescent portions 22.For clarity, the first photoluminescent portion 28 disposed on theinterior surface 17 is shown in reference to FIG. 5 and the plurality ofphotoluminescent portions 82 disposed in the engine compartment 14 areshown in FIG. 6. It shall be understood that the photoluminescentportions 82 as discussed herein may be distributed in any configurationthroughout the interior surface 17 of the hood 18 and the enginecompartment 14. As discussed herein, the first photoluminescent portion28 may be configured as a utility light 32 to illuminate the enginecompartment 14 for maintenance and inspection. In response to the hood18 being oriented in an open position, a lighting control module of thevehicle 10 may be configured to activate the light source 16. Further,in response to the activation of the light source 16, the first emission24 may be activated to emit light having the first wavelength λ₁.

The light source 16 may comprise a plurality of LEDs configured to emitthe first emission at the first wavelength λ₁. In some implementations,the light source 16 may comprise an array of LEDs located proximate aforward portion 92 of the hood 18. By positioning the light source 16proximate the forward portion 92, the light source 16 may experience alower intensity of heat during operation of the vehicle 10. For example,when the hood 18 is oriented in a closed position, the light source 16may be located proximate a radiator or cooling source of the engine suchthat the light source 16 is not damaged by heat radiating from an engine94 of the vehicle 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the light source 16 is configured to directthe first emission 24 substantially toward the first photoluminescentportion 28. Further, the first emission 24 may be directed downwardtoward the engine compartment 14 when the hood 18 is oriented in theopen position. For example, the light source 16 may be connected to theinterior surface 17 such that the first emission is directedsubstantially downward, focused centrally at the engine compartment 14.The light source 16 may further be configured to project the firstemission 24 toward the first photoluminescent portion 28 and the enginecompartment 14 via one or more optic lenses or devices. In thisconfiguration, the first emission 24 at the first wavelength λ₁ isemitted from the light source 16 to substantially illuminate the firstphotoluminescent portion 28 disposed on the hood 18 to illuminate theengine compartment 14.

Though the first emission may be directed through a substantially openvolumetric space between the hood 18 and the engine compartment 14, theillumination of the light at the first wavelength λ₁ may be limitedperceptually. The limited visible or perceptible illumination of thefirst wavelength λ₁ may be due to the first wavelength λ₁ being in theblue or near UV spectral color ranges. Due to the limited sensitivity ofthe human eye to light at such short wavelengths (e.g. blue coloredlight), the first emission may go unnoticed to an onlooker of thelighting system 12. In this way, each of the plurality ofphotoluminescent portions 22 may be illuminated such that the activationsource of the photoluminescent portions 22 is not apparent to provide asophisticated ambient lighting experience.

In response to the first wavelength λ₁ of the first emission 24 beingreceived by the first photoluminescent portion 28, the energy conversionlayer 44 may become excited and emit the second emission 26. Asdiscussed previously herein, the second emission 26 may comprise aplurality of wavelengths λ₂, λ₃, λ₄ to generate a significantly whitelight. The second emission 26 is generally directed toward the enginecompartment 14 such that a plurality of features 96 is illuminated. Theutility light 32 configuration of the first photoluminescent portion 28may provide uniform lighting throughout the engine compartment 44.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the first emission 24 is further directed fromthe light source 16 downward into the engine compartment 14 to excite aconversion layer 44 in one or more photoluminescent portions 82 appliedas a coating to and/or disposed in a matrix (e.g. the polymer matrix 50)of any number of the plurality of features 96. For example, the secondphotoluminescent portion 30 may be incorporated in an engine cover 98;the third photoluminescent portion 84 may be incorporated in an airintake 100 and a strut tower brace 102. In response to receiving thefirst emission 24 comprising the first wavelength λ₁, each of theplurality of photoluminescent portions 82 may become excited. Theexcitation may cause the second photoluminescent portion 30 to emit thethird emission 86 and the third photoluminescent portion 84 to emit thefourth emission 88. For clarity, various details corresponding to thefirst photoluminescent portion 28 are suppressed in FIG. 6.

Though the plurality of photoluminescent portions 82 are specificallydiscussed in reference to three exemplary portions, the plurality ofphotoluminescent portions 82 may corresponds to any number of portions.Each of the plurality of photoluminescent portions 82 may furtherinclude various energy conversion layers including variousphotoluminescent materials configured to emit a wide variety of colorsin response to the first emission 24. As such, the lighting system 12may be utilized in a variety of settings to provide the utility light 32and/or illuminate and accent any number of features 96.

The plurality of features 96 may comprise any feature related to thevehicle 10 that may be disposed generally proximate the enginecompartment 14 and the hood 18. Any of the plurality of features 96 mayincorporate a photoluminescent structure applied as a coating, and/ordispersed in a material structure that may illuminate and emit light inresponse receiving the first wavelength λ₁ of the first emission 24.Each of the photoluminescent portions 82 may be illuminated in a singlecolor or multiple colors to provide a desired color pallet andappearance for illuminating the plurality of features 94. Thephotoluminescent portions 82 may further be utilized to identify one ormore of the plurality of features 94 for easy identification duringmaintenance.

In some implementations, at least one fluid fill cap 104, dip stick, orany other feature 94 may comprise at least one photoluminescentstructure 42 configured to emit an emission (e.g. the third emission 86,fourth emission 88, etc.) comprising an identifying color. Theidentifying color may be emitted in response to the feature 94 receivingthe first emission 24. The identifying color may be configured tocorrespond to a color described in a vehicle user manual or maintenanceinstructions. In some implementations, the plurality of thephotoluminescent portions 82 may correspond to a plurality ofidentifying colors configured to identify, categorize, and/or providefor a first feature 106 having a first color to be visually discerniblefrom a second feature 108 having a second color. In this way, thelighting system may provide additional utility by providing decorativelighting that may serve to aid in identifying various features 94located proximate the engine compartment 14.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a perspective view of the vehicle 10 is showndemonstrating a hood light 112 of the lighting system 12. In someimplementations, a portion of the first emission 24 may be directed fromthe light source 16 to an outer surface 114 of the hood 18. At least aportion of the outer surface 114 of the hood 18 may include an exteriorphotoluminescent portion 116 disposed in a coating, paint layer, vehiclepanel, or any portion of the hood 18. In such implementations, thelighting system 12 may be further configured to provide lighting for theexterior of the vehicle 10.

A portion of the first emission 24 may be directed from the light source16 through an opening in the hood 18. In some implementations, a lightpipe, tube, or any form of optic device may be configured to direct aportion of the first emission 24 from the light source 16 to theexterior photoluminescent portion 116. In response to receiving thefirst emission 24, the exterior photoluminescent portion 116 may becomeexcited and illuminate the hood light 112. As discussed previously inreference the plurality of photoluminescent portions 82, the exteriorphotoluminescent portion 116 may be illuminated in a wide variety ofcolors. In order to control the light source 16 for operation of thehood light 112, the lighting control module of the vehicle 10 may beconfigured to selectively activate the light source 16.

The lighting system 12 as described herein provides various benefitsincluding a cost-effective system operable to provide ambient lightingfor the engine compartment 14 of the vehicle 10. The variousimplementations described herein, including the particular locations andconfigurations of each of the photoluminescent portions, may varywithout departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The disclosureprovides various lighting systems and methods that may improve theappearance of the engine compartment 14 and further provide light toilluminate the engine compartment 14 to improve visibility formaintenance and inspection.

For the purposes of describing and defining the present teachings, it isnoted that the terms “substantially” and “approximately” are utilizedherein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may beattributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or otherrepresentation. The term “substantially” and “approximately” are alsoutilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitativerepresentation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in achange in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent disclosure, and further it is to be understood that suchconcepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless theseclaims by their language expressly state otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. An illumination apparatus for a vehiclecomprising: a photoluminescent portion disposed on an internal surfaceof a closure of an engine vehicle compartment; and a light sourcelocated proximate the closure, the light source configured to emit lightat a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion,wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the firstwavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the firstwavelength to illuminate the compartment, wherein the light source isfurther configured to emit the light at the first wavelength in thecompartment to illuminate a second photoluminescent portion separatelydisposed in the compartment by converting the first wavelength to athird wavelength.
 2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the photoluminescent portion is located proximate the lightsource and is configured to emit the second wavelength downward towardthe compartment.
 3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises a coating disposed on aportion of a hood of the vehicle.
 4. The illumination apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the light source is located on the closureproximate a fore portion of the hood to limit heat exposure of the lightsource from an engine.
 5. The illumination apparatus according to claim1, wherein the first wavelength is in a blue color range approximatelyless than 500 nm.
 6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the second wavelength emitted from the photoluminescent portioncomprises a plurality of wavelengths configured to generate asubstantially white light.
 7. The illumination apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the vertical closure comprises one of a hood.
 8. Anillumination system for a vehicle engine compartment comprising: a firstphotoluminescent portion disposed on an internal surface of a hood; atleast a second photoluminescent portion located in an engine compartmentseparated from the first photoluminescent portion; and a light sourcelocated proximate the hood configured to emit light at a firstwavelength, wherein the photoluminescent portions are configured toconvert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer thanthe first wavelength to illuminate the engine compartment.
 9. Theillumination system according to claim 8, wherein the firstphotoluminescent portion comprises a coating sprayed on a portion of ahood insulator.
 10. The illumination system according to claim 8,wherein the second photoluminescent portion comprises a feature disposedproximate the engine compartment.
 11. The illumination system accordingto claim 8, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured toemit the light at the second wavelength and the second photoluminescentportion is configured to emit light at a third wavelength.
 12. Theillumination system according to claim 8, wherein the firstphotoluminescent portion is configured to emit the light at a pluralityof wavelengths to generate a substantially white light.
 13. Theillumination system according to claim 8, wherein the second luminescentportion comprises a plurality of photoluminescent portions proximate theengine compartment including the second luminescent portion disposed ona first feature and a third luminescent portion disposed on a secondfeature.
 14. The illumination system according to claim 8, wherein thefirst luminescent portion, the second luminescent portion, and the thirdluminescent portion are configured to emit the light at differentwavelengths corresponding to different colors.
 15. A lighting system foran engine compartment comprising: a light source configured to emitlight at a first wavelength directed toward an engine compartment; and aplurality of photoluminescent portions corresponding to a plurality ofseparated features proximate the engine compartment, wherein thephotoluminescent portions are configured to convert the first wavelengthto at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength toilluminate the plurality of features.
 16. The light system according toclaim 15, wherein the plurality of photoluminescent portions comprise afirst portion and a second portion, the first portion configured toconvert the first wavelength of the light to the second wavelength, andthe second portion configured to convert the first wavelength to a thirdwavelength.
 17. The light system according to claim 16, wherein thefirst portion corresponds to a first feature disposed proximate theengine compartment and the second portion corresponds to a secondfeature disposed proximate the engine compartment.
 18. The light systemaccording to claim 16, wherein the second wavelength and the thirdwavelength comprise different colors.
 19. The light system according toclaim 17, wherein the second portion comprises at least one of alettering and an emblem located on at least one of a plurality of enginecomponents.